Nansen Field and the Sons of Norway by Michelle Jaeger Jones
Nansen Field and the Sons of Norway
by Michelle Jaeger Jones
In a very quiet, rural, homey neighborhood in Rolling Hills Estates along Palos Verdes Drive North, you may have noticed a large stone that sticks up like a sign post hailing this is the place to turn in for Nansen Field. If you turn onto that road, which is Hidden Valley road, you will find a quaint sign and gate which leads to a large soccer field with an outcrop of buildings called Nansen field. It is the eight acre home for the Sons of Norway’s Ulabrand Lodge Number 6-024. The Ulbrand Lodge just celebrated their 94th anniversary, which was chartered in May 29, 1926. This field is also a home for many nationalities in the South Bay and where I have enjoyed many Norwegian meals dining with the Sons of Norway club (my mother was Norwegian).
Nansen field was named after the famed Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen who was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, doctorate, humanitarian and Nobel Prize laureate. Fridjof Nansen was a hero in many ways because of his many accomplishments in life. He had courage, intellect, humanity, compassion, insight, leadership, respect and valor. The heights of his accomplishments in life are voluminous and I would have to devote a couple more paragraphs to his achievements so let’s just mention one which was the Nobel Peace Prize. It is no wonder that this beautiful field and home of the Son’s of Norway are named in his honor. The white sign NANSEN FIELD stands proudly at the turn of the road on to private property.
Nansen Field has had a rather tumultuous history of ownership. Initially, it was the Vanderlip property which family offered to the Norwegian Seamens’s Church but they declined the offer. After which the Seaman of Norway Inc., (SNI) purchased the property. It became their property in an irrevocable trust, and as a California non-profit. Then in 1989, Nansen field was considered, by the King of Norway, to be in his providence, and tried to sell the property from the Sons of Norway. This was mainly due to a misunderstanding regarding an option executed in April 1948 by Mr. Ingstad, the first owner , who was then acting as trustee for the Kingdom of Norway. After which it was sold. Subsequently, in 1993 the board members of the non-profit had to defend their ownership of SNI as the sole owner of Nansen Field, in court from the King of Norway. They came out if it victorious. This left them with a legal debt looming over their heads. It was at this time the Scandinavian Center at Nansen Field came into creation as Nansen Field Foundation. It was a necessity to expand community outreach and in its expansion, a gesture of inclusiveness would help maintain its Nordic heritage and sports center. Creating financial expansion and looming debts have been a difficult road for the leadership of Nansen Field.
Currently SCAN (Scandinavian Center at Nansenfield) is the entity with overall responsibility to maintain, develop and financially operate Nansen Field. Its responsibility is to enrich the cultural, educational and social needs of the Scandinavian community.
Over the years, Nansen field has branched out to include the entire European community for events was well as sharing of the facilities to ensure the longevity of the property and the facilities . The extended communities are called user clubs who pay a fixed annual fee and in return use Nansen field for their activities, meetings and social events. The user clubs include: SCAN, Sportsklubben FRAM, Sportklubben FRAM Soccer, Norwegian Fish Club, Sons of Norway-Ulabrand Lodge, Brits at Nansen, Swedish School of South Bay, Icelandic Association of Los Angeles as well as others.
Being financially secure and upgrading Nansen Field with things such as: a Children’s and Heritage Garden along with improving the facilities, is the vision of the future. It also includes the vision of having more cultural offerings such as films, concerts, lectures, cooking classes, language courses, children’s programs and social activities but they will have to wait until we are all back from being locked down by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Currently, the President of the Sons of Norway, Harald Myring, manages the Sons of Norway and the Ulabrand Lodge 6-024. I can imagine he has been challenged by Ulabrand Officers and members with their on line meetings. Right now members and guests can only dream of those delicious Norwegian dinners. I cannot wait until this social distancing is over and the lock down is just a faint memory so we can go back to meeting face to face. That means sharing heritage and wonderful club meals by the Son’s of Norway, at Nansen Field. Hopefully, that dream is not far off.
Michelle Jaeger Jones grew up in Palos Verdes Estates and attended all her schooling on "the Hill". Michelle is continuing to pursue her singing and dancing in her one woman shows and enjoys outdoor activities. She is currently a property manager in Torrance. She can be reached via email at: michllesliveandreconrdedshows@gmail.com